Welcome to 8th grade US History.  We will be exploring our nation’s history from the Declaration of Independence to the Gilded Age of the late 19th Century. Along the way we will learn about the Constitution that guides this nation today and how we can and must participate in our country’s democracy if it is to remain true to the ideals of our Founding Fathers.  We will examine the achievements and conflicts of our past that continue to shape our world today.

Why is History Important?

• We understand ourselves and our history through the stories we tell.
• A shared history binds the people of this country.  We are a country based on ideals not on a race, ethnicity or religion.
• History helps us to discover through critical thinking and reading.
• History helps us to understand how our past shapes today (current events).